Company Of Spears

An hour they sat in council. They heard the reports from the frontier landdrosts, which the colonial secretary had collected, all of which spoke of intolerable levels of predation. Colonel Somerset, as commandant of the frontier, gave his military assessment: without calling out the auxiliaries there was nothing more that could be done with the forces at his disposal.

‘A good deal of the present trouble is undoubtedly brought upon by the character of the settlers come from England and Ireland in recent years. They have no very great disposition to industry and no inclination to exert themselves. Indeed, at times it appears their chief object is to oppose or render odious all authority of any kind, to magnify all their difficulties, and even to sow the seeds of their discontent further afield.’

There was much nodding among the dozen or so officials round the table.

‘Does anyone wish to add anything in this regard?’ asked Somervile, glancing about the assembly.

Fairbrother, sitting not at the table itself but behind Hervey, rose.

Colonel Somerset looked astonished. His mouth opened in protest.

But he was too slow. ‘Proceed, sir,’ said Somervile.

‘Sir Eyre, gentlemen,’ began Fairbrother, nodding to the seniors with an exemplary show of respect. ‘All that we have heard – even this ill disposition and magnification on the part of the settlers – cannot account for what is perfectly clearly a significant irruption by the Xhosa. I remain of the opinion that the Zulu are the true cause of the turbulence. They press in from the north-east of the Xhosa’s territory, and the Xhosa in their turn are displaced towards the south-west and over the frontier. In other words the trespassing and the reiving is to all intents and purposes a Zulu peril.’

Colonel Somerset struck the table. ‘Sir Eyre, we have heard all this before, in Colonel Hervey’s memoranda. It is most improper for this … officer’ (he appeared to force himself to say it) ‘to address the council in this way.’

Somervile looked at General Bourke. He had a mind that since this was not a matter of military opinion the general would have no objection to hearing it (or at least would not declare so).

The general shook his head.

Somervile replied with considerable balm. ‘Colonel, I do agree with you that we have read extensively of these views, but the benefit of hearing them in council is that all may hear equally, and a proper record of deliberations may be made. Littera scripta manet?’

With a bow, Colonel Somerset – for the time being at least – conceded.

‘Carry on, if you please, Captain Fairbrother,’ said Eyre Somervile, concealing a smile of satisfaction.

‘Thank you, Sir Eyre. I know the following to have been placed before you already, but while Captain Hervey was received by Gaika I was able to speak with some of the Xhosa elders. I believe that Gaika and the other Xhosa chiefs could be persuaded to resist the Zulu if they are given military assistance. By all I know, this King Shaka will not give up his predations. At best he will push the Xhosa from their land, and they will come across the frontier and make war with the colony. But at worst Shaka will defeat them, or persuade them to an alliance, and then we shall be obliged to fight both Xhosa and Zulu.’

Somervile nodded. He had indeed heard it before – it was the stuff of many memoranda – but he wanted the words to be heard in council, and time for them to be weighed. He said nothing for a full minute, appearing to contemplate the paper in front of him.

At length he looked at General Bourke, who remained silent. ‘Very well. The inescapable conclusion, gentlemen – unless there is something I have overlooked – is that it were greatly better to fight this Shaka now, and at a remove on the north-east of Kaffraria with the Xhosa in alliance, than face the prospect in not many more years of fighting the Zulu on the Fish River, with the Xhosa on Shaka’s side.’

No one spoke.

Somervile looked at the colonial secretary (later Hervey would conclude that it was rehearsed). ‘Colonel Bird, what are the reports of Shaka?’

Colonel Bird opened a portfolio. ‘Sir Eyre, the reports to hand on the activity of the Zulu are – I trust that I do not magnify them – of an alarming tendency. The Zulu have already raided deep into the land of the Tambooka, and not two weeks ago, when the Natal report was sent, they had marched several days into Xhosa land and taken many cattle.’

Heads were lowered studying the maps on the table.